Menu
06/06/2006
Preparation for Government Committee meets for second day
The Northern Ireland Assembly's Preparation for Government Committee has today reconvened for a second attempt at finding a chairperson.
The committee met yesterday but failed to agree on who should chair proceedings.
Yesterday, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness suggested that the committee be either jointly chaired by representatives of this own party and the DUP or rotated between the parties, however the DUP rejected this proposal.
The DUP then proposed the Assembly Speaker, Eileen Bell, as a possible chairperson, but she rejected the role and left the meeting.
They also suggested their own party member South Antrim MP William McCrea and the Alliance Party leader David Forde for the role, however, Mr Ford said he would only consider the role as part of a wider rotation system between all the parties.
An idea put forward today was to allow NI Secretary Peter Hain to make an external appointment.
Another is that the Alliance, Ulster Unionists and SDLP rotate the chair for an initial period until a solution is found.
The committee's role is to identify obstacles to the return of devolution.
At today's meeting, Secretary of State Peter Hain was criticised by the Ulster Unionist party whose leader Sir Reg Empey accused him of making the Assembly into puppet show.
He also protested over Mr Hain's attitude to the assembly and asked if the speaker could request that the business committee at Stormont decide what is debated.
Assembly speaker Eileen Bell said that under the Northern Ireland Act, Mr Hain had the power to refer whatever business he saw fit to be debated in the assembly on the recommendation of the business committee.
The Assembly members then discussed the issues of the introduction of industrial de-rating.
As the debate got underway, DUP leader Ian Paisley said that he was amazed Mr Hain had decided last week without consulting parties that the Assembly would not meet.
He said: "They speak for the people of this province. Why should this Assembly suddenly be turned off because the Secretary of State has other views that he wants to impose on members of this Assembly?"
The reformation of the local assembly is a bid to encourage the political parties to come to some sort of an agreement in a bid to restore an all-part power-sharing executive by the November 24 deadline.
On May 15, Northern Ireland MLA's took their seats at Stormont for the first time since 2002.
The local assembly was suspended following allegations over an alleged republican spy ring, which was subsequently proven to be false.
(EF/GB)
The committee met yesterday but failed to agree on who should chair proceedings.
Yesterday, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness suggested that the committee be either jointly chaired by representatives of this own party and the DUP or rotated between the parties, however the DUP rejected this proposal.
The DUP then proposed the Assembly Speaker, Eileen Bell, as a possible chairperson, but she rejected the role and left the meeting.
They also suggested their own party member South Antrim MP William McCrea and the Alliance Party leader David Forde for the role, however, Mr Ford said he would only consider the role as part of a wider rotation system between all the parties.
An idea put forward today was to allow NI Secretary Peter Hain to make an external appointment.
Another is that the Alliance, Ulster Unionists and SDLP rotate the chair for an initial period until a solution is found.
The committee's role is to identify obstacles to the return of devolution.
At today's meeting, Secretary of State Peter Hain was criticised by the Ulster Unionist party whose leader Sir Reg Empey accused him of making the Assembly into puppet show.
He also protested over Mr Hain's attitude to the assembly and asked if the speaker could request that the business committee at Stormont decide what is debated.
Assembly speaker Eileen Bell said that under the Northern Ireland Act, Mr Hain had the power to refer whatever business he saw fit to be debated in the assembly on the recommendation of the business committee.
The Assembly members then discussed the issues of the introduction of industrial de-rating.
As the debate got underway, DUP leader Ian Paisley said that he was amazed Mr Hain had decided last week without consulting parties that the Assembly would not meet.
He said: "They speak for the people of this province. Why should this Assembly suddenly be turned off because the Secretary of State has other views that he wants to impose on members of this Assembly?"
The reformation of the local assembly is a bid to encourage the political parties to come to some sort of an agreement in a bid to restore an all-part power-sharing executive by the November 24 deadline.
On May 15, Northern Ireland MLA's took their seats at Stormont for the first time since 2002.
The local assembly was suspended following allegations over an alleged republican spy ring, which was subsequently proven to be false.
(EF/GB)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
09 April 2024
Economy Minister Highlights Key Role Of Social Enterprises
Social enterprises play a key role in growing Northern Ireland's economy, Economy Minister Conor Murphy has said. The Minister was visiting the IncredABLE Café @ South Lake in Craigavon, a social enterprise who are making a difference to the lives of people with learning/intellectual difficulties and/or autism.
Economy Minister Highlights Key Role Of Social Enterprises
Social enterprises play a key role in growing Northern Ireland's economy, Economy Minister Conor Murphy has said. The Minister was visiting the IncredABLE Café @ South Lake in Craigavon, a social enterprise who are making a difference to the lives of people with learning/intellectual difficulties and/or autism.
30 January 2012
McNarry To Resign From Ulster Unionist Assembly Team
David McNarry is set to resign formally from the Ulster Unionist assembly team following disagreements over cooperation with the DUP. The deputy chairman of the assembly's education committee revealed his plans to quit after he was demoted by the party leader for talking to the Belfast Telegraph.
McNarry To Resign From Ulster Unionist Assembly Team
David McNarry is set to resign formally from the Ulster Unionist assembly team following disagreements over cooperation with the DUP. The deputy chairman of the assembly's education committee revealed his plans to quit after he was demoted by the party leader for talking to the Belfast Telegraph.
03 May 2022
Queer Greens Launch 2022 Assembly Election Manifesto
The Green Party NI's Queer Greens group has announced the publication of its 2022 Assembly election manifesto, outlining the Party's priorities for LGBTQ+ rights in Northern Ireland.
Queer Greens Launch 2022 Assembly Election Manifesto
The Green Party NI's Queer Greens group has announced the publication of its 2022 Assembly election manifesto, outlining the Party's priorities for LGBTQ+ rights in Northern Ireland.
27 September 2002
400 jobs go in Belfast and Carrickfergus
It has been a poor day for the local economy with the announcement that a total of 375 jobs are to be lost at two major companies. Staff at Shorts where hit with the news that 240 jobs are to go at the east Belfast site. This brings to almost 1,000 the number of people who have lost their jobs at the company in the past 12 months.
400 jobs go in Belfast and Carrickfergus
It has been a poor day for the local economy with the announcement that a total of 375 jobs are to be lost at two major companies. Staff at Shorts where hit with the news that 240 jobs are to go at the east Belfast site. This brings to almost 1,000 the number of people who have lost their jobs at the company in the past 12 months.
22 May 2009
DUP Executive Members To Stand Down
Some of the DUP's most high profile Stormont politicians are preparing to resign from the Assembly, the party leader has said. Peter Robinson said those within the party, who hold a double mandate, would leave the Executive table, in a radical shake-up of the DUP's ministerial team.
DUP Executive Members To Stand Down
Some of the DUP's most high profile Stormont politicians are preparing to resign from the Assembly, the party leader has said. Peter Robinson said those within the party, who hold a double mandate, would leave the Executive table, in a radical shake-up of the DUP's ministerial team.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:There will be a mixture of bright intervals and a few showers. Best of the sunny spells will be near the North Coast. Feeling on the cool side. Maximum temperature 10 °C.Tonight:Showers will gradually die out during the evening. A cold night with long clear spells leading to a touch of frost in places. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
